Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine - Know the Differences

It isn't unusual to use the terms sports medicine and physical therapy interchangeably. However the two aren't exactly the same things even though you may find yourself the patient of both fields at the same time.

While compatible, the difference between the two branches of medical discipline is clear. Both are effective for treating injuries, diseases and disorders of the muscle and skeletal systems of the body and both are useful for the prevention of future injury or disease symptom reoccurence. By taking an individual look at both types of medical assistance, you will soon see the differences between physical therapy and sports medicine.

Let's take a look at the field of physical therapy first. Unlike sports medicine, physical therapy as a whole is devoted to correcting any injury, disease, or disorder of the bones and muscles that can be treated with non invasive techniques. The focus is to provide patients with relief from pain, improve their muscle, joint, and bone function, while providing techniques the patient can use on their own for additional healing. The primary tools of a therapist are good diagnosing and evaluating skills, knowledge of the musculoskeletal system, and knowledge of which therapy is effective for each situation.

One large difference between the two is that physical therapy doesn't only deal with sports related injuries or problems. Physical therapists can choose to specialize in their careers with emphasis on things like pediatrics, geriatrics, and neurology. Other areas of expertise included in physical therapy are sports, cardiovascular sciences, and occupational therapy.

When you are looking at the differences between these two healing arts you certainly can't overlook sports medicine. The type of medical discipline is solely used for sports related injuries and disorders. While sports physical therapy techniques are commonly used in addition to sports medicine, sports medicine may involve surgeries, procedures, and medications not used in physical therapy. Sports medicine practitioners also can have specialty fields as well. Orthopedics and skeletal emphasis are common. Advanced study of how long term sporting activities and treating sports related injuries are always a part of this particular discipline.

Understanding the difference between physical therapy and sports medicine may be key to determining how to best treat your physical problem. While they can and are commonly used together, each one has its own distinct benefit. Your medical care team can further help distinguish the two and point you in the right direction in terms of your health care needs. The important thing is take care of any injury, sports related or not, to ensure your body's function in the years to come.

The difference between these two medical approaches is obvious. Although the two are often used together, each one has its own purpose and uses. Your doctor can give you advice on which specialist is right for your needs.

Massage Therapy - More Than Just for Relaxation

Does a massage do more than just feel good?

Of course it does.

Massage therapy is a scientific system of skillful manipulations of the hands upon the body for improvement of health and well-being. The word "massage" is derived from the Greek word masso, meaning "I knead".

Some of the benefits of Massage Therapy are:

• Relaxation/Stress relief


• Increased Range of Motion or Joint movement


• Dilates blood vessels, improving circulation throughout the body


• Acts as a mechanical cleanser, stimulating lymph circulation and hastening the elimination of wastes and toxic debris


• Relaxes Muscle spasms and releases tension


• Increases blood supply and nutrition to muscles


• Improves muscle tone and helps prevent or delay muscular atrophy resulting from forced inactivity


• Is used for relief of pains, cramps, swelling, strains and many other imbalanced conditions of the body


• Provides a sedative, or stimulating effect on the nervous system


• Helps reduce edema, decrease pain, and facilitate movement

There is plentiful of research showing that massage lowers stress and it significantly decreases the level of cortisol in the bloodstream. Cortisol is the stress hormone. Chronically high levels of cortisol can contribute to high blood pressure, imbalances in blood sugar levels, decreased bone density and an increase in abdominal fat, which is associated with heart disease, stroke, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Getting a massage or bodywork session as well as any other relaxing activity you enjoy, will help lower your stress level.

Massage Therapy helps athletes:

• Reduce the chance of injury, through proper stretching and event preparation, and through deep tissue massage


• Improve range of motion and muscle flexibility, resulting in improved power and performance


• Shorten recovery time between workouts


• Maximize the supply of nutrients and oxygen through increased blood flow


• Enhance elimination of metabolic by-products of exercise

Professional cyclists, like those in the Tour de France, receive a massage everyday as part of their recovery process and routine.

Massage therapy is also a proven and effective treatment for people with low back pain, the #1 cause of missed work and disability in the United States. 穡Massage for Low-back Pain: A Systematic Review within the Framework of the Cochrane Collaboration Back Review Group -Spine 2002 concludes that massage might be beneficial for patients with subacute and chronic nonspecific Low Back Pain, especially when combined with exercises and education.

Massage therapy does not only treat or focus on the muscles in your body. There are techniques, like Myofascal Release, that treat dysfunction in the fascia or connective tissue of the body.

What is Fascia and Connective Tissue?

Fascia is a connective tissue in your body that supports and surrounds every muscle, bone, nerve, blood vessel, organ and every cell of your body. Fascia is the gristle on your steak and the white film between your chicken breast and the skin. It is the immediate environment of every cell of your body and should be viscous and fluid and move with your body. Fascia can be damaged by repetitive stress, trauma, injuries and inflammation. This damage can create restrictions in the fascia which can put enormous pressure on pain sensitive structures and can cause pain and dysfunction. Myofascial Release is a hands-on massage therapy technique that can release restrictions in the fascia and it is applied using sustained gentle pressure and stretching by manipulating muscles and fascia directly on dry skin.

Lower your cortisol level with a massage or bodywork treatment today.

Paying For Massage School

One of the biggest obstacles for people wanting to become massage therapists can be paying for massage school. Tuition alone can run in the thousands, sometimes tens of thousands. Typically, tuition costs $9.00-$10.00 per contact hour. On top of tuition, students must find resources to cover related school expenses like books and supplies and pay for their living expenses while in school.

The funding methods below are important possibilities for potential students to explore.

• 
  Payment Plans:
  Many schools offer payment options that allow students to make monthly payments rather than paying the tuition in full. Payment plans vary from school to school. The school's admission staff can explain their policies regarding payment plans.



• 
  Federal Financial Aid:
  A few schools offer federal financial aid. This means their students are eligible for federally backed student loans. In order for schools to offer federal funding, they must be nationally accredited. The fees for accreditation are expensive for the school and the staff time necessary to receive and maintain accreditation is a big investment. This means that the smaller, more intimate massage schools usually are not nationally accredited. The benefits of federal financial aid are that funding is more accessible and interest rates can be lower. Without federal financial aid, some students are unable to get loans at all. The downside about federal financial aid is that the schools that offer federal financial aid are often more expensive than those that don't. Some federally funded schools cost as much as $20 per contact hour.



• 
  Other Student Loans:
  There are non-federally backed student loans available for students with good credit. This gives students who need to borrow money for tuition more options for their education. However, students should check out student loans products carefully. There are companies that charge as much as 18% interest for non-federal student loans. With thorough research, a student should be able to find better bargains. One company that offers loans for non-federally funded programs is SLM Financial. They offer a Direct Career Training Loan product for which many massage programs would qualify.



• 
  Personal Loans:
  For students with good credit and collateral, personal loans are may be an option. Interest rates on personal loans are generally higher than on federally backed student loans, but personal loans can pay for schools that don't qualify for federal funding. In addition to personal loans, home equity loans are a good option. The interest rates for home equity lines of credit can be lower than for personal loans.



• 
  Other Resources:
  A Small Business Administration once recommended looking for financial backing at what he called "the Bank of Friends and Family." For some lucky massage students, this is a viable form of support. One student's grandfather helped each of his grandchildren with their college tuition. However, the grandfather recalled "massage parlors" of the past and was not enthused about helping his granddaughter go to massage school. She took it upon herself to educate her grandfather about massage therapy as a career and healing modality. Somewhat hesitantly he decided to assist her, but by the time she graduated, he was a convert. This approach of education and inclusion can be invaluable when a student is receiving financial support from a family member or friend. Parents or grandparents may want to contact the school's administrative staff to discuss their educational programs or the field of massage therapy. If the student familiarizes herself with the career of massage therapy and is realistic about employment opportunities, it can help assure family members who are considering giving financial support.



• 
  Scholarships:
  In reality, scholarships for massage school are difficult to locate and receive. They are probably not the full answer to massage school funding needs, but could help supplement other funding sources. Libraries have scholarship books that list various scholarships; the reference librarian will be able to help locate these resources. There are also scholarship websites on-line.



• 
  Savings:
  There are many stories of people who have wanted to go to massage school for years. They held onto their dream, saved money as they could, and attended school when the timing was right.

People who want to become massage therapists may have to work hard toward their goal of massage school. The profession needs dedicated and passionate practitioners. Sometimes what we're most passionate about takes dedication, patience, and hard work. With a little bit of each, the dream of attending massage school can become a reality.

© 2008, Rebecca Mauldin, All Rights Reserved

Spa & Beauty Schools Online - Studying For A Degree In Cosmetology

Thinking of getting trained through spa & beauty schools online? Well, you are not alone. An increasing number of people are opting for such schools to add to their qualifications in a simple and convenient manner.

Surveying Options Available

Today you have many options to choose from when it comes to a beauty school or spa online. While a plethora of schools are available on the Internet, selecting the most appropriate one requires some amount of patience and research. A good way to embark on your quest is by narrowing down the search on the basis of your requirements. Reading up various reviews and testimonials on such spa & beauty schools online gives a fair picture as to what to expect from any particular school as such.

There are many schools mentioned on the Internet offering a wide range in courses to choose from. Official websites of leading cosmetology schools have indeed much to offer. In addition to providing various courses for those who wish to pursue the specialization concerned, such institutes also host all kinds of other relevant information. With well written articles and frequently updated blog entries, websites of leading institutes are usually a storehouse of information on all facets related to enhancing physical appearance.

Courses Available To Choose From

Prominent spa & beauty schools online offer an impressive range in courses. Along with offering courses, these institutes also provide tips and strategies for those looking to break into the market in the field chosen by them. Courses offered usually belong to the common categories of:

* Massage - including chiropractic and exercise science;
* Beauty - which includes make up and nail care;
* Holistic And Natural Health - a section which includes various courses for naturopathy, reflexology, acupuncture, hypnotism and metaphysics;
* Barbering And Hair Designing;
* Aesthetics And Skin Care; And
* Cosmetology.

Offering various courses in the above-mentioned categories, spa & beauty schools online are a great way to get a certification in a hassle-free manner.

Adopting The Right Approach

While you can approach almost any school for your certification, opting for the best available lets you gain a certification that has the highest reputation in the field. Leading spa & beauty schools online offer certificates that carry the maximum influence in the sector concerned. With the ever increasing focus on looking good, courses offered by such a school are immensely sought-after today. Websites of such institutes offer the facility of selecting a school near you. Based on your requirements, you can short-list options available on the basis of zip code and courses offered. Popular programs mentioned on these websites usually are for -

* Massage therapy,
* Cosmetology,
* Nail technician,
* Aesthetics,
* Skincare,
* Hand and foot therapists,
* Barbering, and
* Hair designing.

With the right certification, there are excellent growth prospects in the long run. Promising several well paying positions, certification by the best names in the field opens up many doors for you.

Spa & beauty schools online offer many attractive options for people looking for a career in the fitness and beautification business. With various options to choose from, the right school is perhaps just a click of the mouse away.

Should You Take A Physical Therapy Assistant Online Degree?

Online degrees are getting increasingly popular these days, as more and more people seek training to enter the workplace or get a better job. Many schools and colleges offer alternative online formats to their traditional campus based programs. Distance learning is particularly popular in the vocational training sector, for example, healthcare services. So can you train online to be a physical therapy assistant? And will an online course provide you with the kind of preparation you need to enter the profession?

Choices for Physical Therapy Assistant Training

Good career training is a sound investment in your professional future, and you owe it to yourself to make sure that you're choosing the best program for your needs as a student as well as for your eventual career. That's why it's so important to do your homework before enrolling in a program, investigating areas such as the school itself, the program, its curriculum and faculty, admission requirements, recent pass rate percentages of graduating students and other relevant information.

One extremely important aspect of your research is to check for each program's accreditation status. The only agency recognized at the moment by the US Department of Education to accredit physical therapy assisting programs is the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), which currently lists over 270 accredited programs in its website directory. These are organized by state, and it's a very good starting place to research programs.

There are several reasons why choosing an accredited program is important, and you can find out more about the process of peer review that is involved when you visit the CAPTE website. In order to practice as a physical therapy assistant in most states in the US, it is necessary to be credentialed -- i.e. licensed or certified -- by the jurisdiction in that state. Licensure normally depends on passing the National Physical Therapy Examination for PTAs, and only candidates who have graduated from an accredited degree program are eligible to apply.

Are There Any Accredited Online PTA Programs?

There are a few colleges that have an online component to their PTA training, for example, the lecture parts of the course. But every accredited PTA program is going to include lab classes and clinical experiences, which students must attend in person at a designated site. So it is possible to study parts of some courses online through a hybrid program format that integrates distance learning lectures with lab classes at weekends, for example. In this way, students who need to work part-time may be able to combine their study with their job. But even with these hybrid programs, the series of clinical practicum experiences must be carried out at the prescribed physical therapy location on a full-time schedule.

Before choosing a program with an online component, you need to decide whether you're the sort of student who would be able to benefit from learning away from the classroom. This kind of self organized study format can work very well for self-motivated students with independent study skills. But some students need the support comes from regular face-to-face contact with a teacher and classmates, and this type of person might benefit from a more traditional program model.

Methods and Benefits of Remedial Massage Therapy

Essentially, remedial massage therapy differs in its nature and scope than the relaxation treatments that spas offer to their customers. The remediation of muscle tissue to reduce swelling and pain is one of the primary purposes of this treatment. In particular, a remedial massage therapist palpates the patient's body to identify the source of pain. A common solution is for the therapist to mechanically manipulate the muscles, tendons and ligaments to loosen up stiff joints and to break down knotted tissues. A second technique makes use of nerve pathways called meridians to treat the patient.

Using Pressure and Stretching Exercises

Generally, a trained professional would know how to palpate and apply the right amount of pressure to the area using the knuckles or the heel of a hand. Repeatedly pulling and pushing tightened muscles eventually breaks them down and melts away the tension. Apart from the relaxing effects, a massage treatment also releases the harmful deposits from the body through stretching and joint rotation exercises. These toxins trapped in the lymphatic nodes usually lead to acid buildup, which causes muscle and joint problems.

Understanding the Neural Pathways and Flow of Energy

A remedial massage treatment that combines similar styles, such as shiatsu and Swedish massage, recognizes the role of nerve points in keeping a smooth flow of chi or life force within the body. This hidden river of energy continuously flows through the body's major organs, muscles, and veins. Practitioners in traditional massage techniques believe that clogged pathways cause problems with one's physical and emotional health. Thus, getting rid of the blockages opens up the circulation of chi, which bursts through the body similar to an electrifying sensation.

Western medicine often prescribed drugs to treat the psychosomatic symptoms of an imbalance in the body's life force. These drugs certainly relieve the person of the symptoms, but they mostly missed the mark in resolving a deeper emotional problem. And so, many remedial massage practitioners have been working with doctors and physical therapists to treat muscular and skeletal dysfunctions, such as whiplash injury, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, lower back pain, migraines, and sports injuries. During treatment, the remedial massage therapist may massage the arms to alleviate stomach pains or apply pressure to the lower back area to treat leg cramps.

All in all, a remedial massage brings several health benefits to a patient without the use of drugs or mechanical devices to manage the pain or treat emotional problems. The massage techniques affect different body systems, including circulatory, endocrine, and excretory systems. The most significant effect, however, is the calming of the peripheral nervous system, which manages sensations of pain. In the end, the toning and relaxation of muscles and joints lead to better mobility and flexibility for the patient.

The Benefits of Swedish Massage

Swedish massage is the most common form of relaxation massage offering many relaxing as well as healing properties to your body. Swedish massage combines the use of long strokes, kneading and friction techniques to manipulate the soft tissues of the body causing a variety of benefits to your body to help it to heal itself. Below is a list of benefits that you will receive from Swedish massage:

*Reduces stress and anxiety

*Promotes relaxation

*Improves circulation

*Relieves general body tension

*Relieves aches and muscle stiffness

*Improves muscle tone

*Removes toxins from the muscles

*Improves flexibility in muscles and joints

*Improves immune system

*Improves digestion and elimination

*Promotes healthy skin

For added relaxation and health benefits have your therapist add essential oils such as lavender, chamomile or ylang ylang to your session. Essential oils can be customized by your therapist to suit your needs which are absorbed through the body via the skin and deep breathing to relieve your body of toxins, increase circulation, affect specific emotional or physical conditions and produce an overall feeling of well being.

Are you ready to relax and to reduce the stress in your life? Get a Swedish massage and start relaxing and reaping the wonderful health benefits Swedish massage has to offer today! Swedish massage should be performed by a Licensed Massage Therapist. To locate a licensed therapist in your area visit The American Massage Therapy Association at http://www.amtamassage.org

Beauty Schools - What Do They Teach?

Anyone who wants to join the field of cosmetology can get training from a good beauty school and become a qualified beautician. You can learn different services for improving personal appearance at a beauty school and start your career as a professional. You must have heard about cosmetology schools and colleges but you might not know that what they teach their students.

Students are taught about various services in such institutions and get proper training to become a beautician. These schools offer several different courses through which they teach everything related to that particular service which are required to make a professional beautician.

• Beauty treatments: Everyone knows that beauty schools generally teach different beauty services like hair dos, hair removal, facials, manicure and pedicure in their courses. But there are some minor but very important things which are taught to the students before they start their professional lives. For example scalp massage is taught in hair cut and styling course because improper massage can cause lots of pain and irritation. In the same way nail care includes nail grooming, nail diseases and disorders etc.


• Hygiene: Good beauty schools always teach their students the importance of personal hygiene and the dangers of ignoring it. This is why hygiene is an important part of their education. Students are taught about how to keep the work place clean and the importance and methods of keeping their instruments clean as well.


• Conduct: It is very important in any business to have good conduct and friendly and pleasant attitude with the clients. Trainees are taught how to deal with their clients during their courses. You need to know about the human psychology and behavior while dealing with them. You can increase the number of your customers just by having good and friendly dealing with them.


• Common skin diseases: It is an obvious thing that the students are taught about skin care in beauty schools but in such courses they teach their students about common skin diseases and their causes so they can explain their clients in a better way. Studying about relevant chemistry, anatomy and physiology is a part of their course in beauty schools.


• Recognition of tools: Students are taught about different tools that are used in cosmetology; it is essential to have proper knowledge about the tools as they are going to use them in their professional life.


• Useful tips: During their training the students learn many professional and useful tips from their experienced instructors which make them a complete professional.

There are plenty of things that are taught in such institutions to make the students professional beauty experts. You can learn those things at any good beauty institution.

What Are the Best Ways to Find a Qualified Massage Therapist?

There are many ways to find a qualified massage therapist/practitioner in North London. Obviously, when looking for such a professional, we all wish to find someone who is skilled, experienced, personable, preferably local, and who offers such a service at a reasonable rate and at times convenient to us. London is a large place so finding a qualified specialist local to where you are in North London is vital and not that hard of a job, if done properly.

Firstly, we need to be clear on the type of massage service we are looking for, as massage is as varied as fruit or cakes. Do we want something simply to relax? Or to alleviate chronic tension in our upper back? Do we prefer to have oil massage or clothed massage? When we know exactly what we want, it is much easier to find someone right for us.

Sometimes, a friend or colleague will recommend a massage practitioner to us. This is a great way to find a massage practitioner, as they have been tried and endorsed by someone we know and trust. Often though, we wish for a massage but do not have a recommendation. Where to start? Wherever you begin to search, remember that who you get can often come down to pot luck, and that is why it is important to try out many different practitioners so you get a feel and taste for what you like best and works best for you. You can however get a good feeling, from a practitioner's advertising/website, as to whether they are right for you or not.

The internet now is one of the first places to start your search. Keyword searches, such as 'sports massage north London', on search engines such as Google, are a popular choice and will throw up pages of possible candidates, though many of them will not be based in North London. Generally speaking, practitioners with well optimised websites take a more professional and committed approach to their work so are a better bet, than for instance, many of the practitioner's who advertise on many of the free classifieds. But you never know where you are going to find a gem.

Look for professional bodies such as EMBODY or the FHT, where you can find a list of fully qualified and insured practitioners. Practitioners allied to other health professionals, such as osteopaths or physiotherapists, in well established health centres, are skilled and professional and worth checking out. Local business groups, such as the Rotary Club, Business Club, or the BNI, attract enterprising, innovative, skilled and experienced professionals, so massage therapists you find there will usually be a good option. Seek out places that are professional and with a well established reputation in healthcare - if they do not have a practitioner for you, they can often recommend one.

What to look for?

A massage, whichever style you prefer, is a personal service, therefore the best therapists are those that take a personal approach to you as a unique individual, who are caring and have good inter-personal skills, as well as good technical massage skills. Look for someone with continuous professional training. Generally speaking, those that take regular training are those wishing to be the best they can, so naturally through continuous development they are very skilled. Also, someone who is multi-disciplined, having studied various styles, is generally more flexible and creative in their approach.

Throughout North London there are many qualified massage therapists and following these tips will direct you to the right company or professional to use!

Good luck in finding the best person for you!

Job Outlook for Massage Therapy Careers

If you are considering becoming a masseuse, you should know that the job outlook for massage therapy careers is good, especially if you want to start your own business. The demand for trained massage therapists is expected to grow as a result of the continuing acceptance of the healing arts and alternative medicines. The fact is that people love getting massages, and if you are good at what you do, you can have a very satisfying and rewarding career.

As a massage counselor?you will specialize in the manipulation of soft tissue to help improve circulation, accelerate detoxification, relieve stress and reduce pain in the body. You can concentrate on many different styles of massage such as Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, Chinese massage, Thai massage, prenatal massage and the list goes on and on. Some people do massage therapy part time so they can focus on other things such as school or parenting, others do it "on the side" to augment their main income and others do it full time.

The growth for this career is faster than that of many other industries because people are seeing its therapeutic benefits more and more. In fact, experts point to a 20 percent increase in the number of massage therapist positions by 2016. Although a report released in 2006 showed that the average massage therapist wage in the United States was about $16 per hour, there is potential to earn as much as $35 per hour. This is especially possible if you are self employed and build a good rapport with your clients. Some massage tcounselors charge as much as $65 per hour and have very low overhead costs. And with such a good job outlook for massage therapy careers, this average wage is bound to increase.

If you want to become a massage counselor you should learn the requirements first. Almost 40 states currently require professional licenses for massage counselors, which entails schooling, examinations and a certain number of practice hours. You may also need to invest in continuing education throughout your career. With such a good job outlook, though, the investment is worth it.

Career Information on the Physical Therapy Assistant Programs

The job outlook for physical therapy aids is excellent and it is expected to grow in the future to provide for the needs of rehabilitation and treatment for people who have become immobilized due to accidents or disease. Providing proper care to these patients will help them recover their normal function in order to return to the daily routine unhampered by the disability. Physical therapy is about giving patients the encouragement and proper motivation to hasten the recovery process through a treatment strategy.

In order to become a physical therapy assistant, one must be able to complete an associate course in the accredited physio therapy aid programs with licensure examinations at the end of the course. The associate degree can be taken from the educational establishments or the online physio therapy aid programs. The online programs provides for the same kind of learning that can be attained from the normal schooling process. The quality and content of the school curriculum however must conform to the standards required by the American physio Therapy Association. Depending upon individual preferences, some extend their education to the bachelor's course which provides for more job opportunities and higher salaries.

Physical therapy assistants provide services to restore function and mobility, relieve pain and discomfort, and prevent the aggravation of the physical disabilities resulting from accidents, strokes, head injuries or arthritis. The physio therapy aid job description includes the examination and evaluation of the patient's medical history, a test of the patient's strength and coordination and the development of treatment strategies for fast recovery. The tests will determine the patient's ability to return to the normal life activities or workplace before the accident or illness has happened. Being able to effectively communicate with the patient may not be included in the physio therapy assistant job description but this is where the success of the treatment largely depends on.

More often than not, the patients are depressed with their condition that it needs excellent inter-personal skills to encourage and motivate the patients to undergo the treatment. Understanding and compassion will play a big role in the process of treatment since the patient's despair and depression needs to be overcome. Being able to relate and emphasize with the patient will work more than whatever equipments and exercises are provided. The therapeutic procedures can be painful and difficult that a large degree of patience and understanding of the situation is necessary to hasten the process.

What Is the Best Massage Therapy Method?

Of the 160 types of massage therapy available today, it can be very difficult for us to figure out which among these is the best and most effective of them all. All of these share the same goal and purpose for their development which is to improve the overall health of the patient and to boost the natural healing capability of the human body.

Basically, by simply stimulating the body of the patient, the body responds by relaxing itself and giving in for the massage therapy to take its course in relieving stress and body pain, as well as enhancing the health and immune system of the patient. The central nervous system when worked on will provide the body a healthy physical and mental condition. This is a fact believed by most of the Ancient Asian massage therapists that is why most of their methods focus on the key points where energy flows. The goal is to keep a good flow or circulation of energy all over the body of every individual.

In looking for the best therapeutic massage, you should do a research on the technique and methods used on certain massage therapies that you are interested in. Some require the patient to undress for a better access on the body parts that the massage therapist needs to work on. If you are a shy person who is uncomfortable with nudity during a massage session, you would probably shun from massage therapies that require nudity such as Swedish massage out of your list. This is why getting information regarding most of the massage therapies is essential if you are looking for the ideal one. Some are uncommon and might seem shocking to beginners. Other types are harder and apply much pressure on the patient's body than the regular massage therapies. If you don't want to get anything on your skin like oil, cream or lotion, then Swedish massage, aromatherapy massage, shiatsu, and many others that uses oil as lubricant are definitely out of your choices. You can go for Thai massage, reflexology, and other types that doesn't require the aid of light oil, cream or lotion during the massage session.

Comparing them with each other as well as their benefits will help you in choosing what you think is suitable for your choice. One of the best ways of doing this is by looking through the internet for tons of valuable information regarding the many different types of massage therapy. You can also consider asking the opinions of massage therapists as they do many different types.

No matter what type you take, they all provide the same benefits to the patient. The only difference you will notice is based on how skillful and knowledgeable your massage therapist is regarding the massage therapy. It would be more appropriate and much better if you choose someone who specializes on that type of massage therapy if you want to get the best result.

How To Crush Painful Knots From Playing Sports

Sports massage

Sports massage is a special kind of massage that is specially formulated for athletes of all walks of life. This includes marathon runners, weight lifters, sprinters and field athletes. There are different types of massage techniques and each particular sport will have its own requirements.

Aspects of sports massage therapy have recently been viewed as an important aspect of modern day training. Many also use massage as a pre-tournament and pre-event preparation strategy so that muscles are properly conditioned and toned. Exercise is very important because it promotes great health and also helps prevent diseases and chronic body conditions. Exercise is also great for aging people. It has been shown to increase bone density and reduce the rate of bone loss.

Sports massage

Today, sports massage therapy is highly considered as part of training regimes not just for professional athletes but basically any person who participates in any form of exercise, including regular joggers. Specially designed application of massage will help an individual athlete prevent injuries, be more flexible, improve endurance and basically keep the body conditioned and ready for some serious workouts and optimum performance in competitive athletic games and matches.

No Keyword - Sports massage

Basically, massage targets tendons. These are parts of the body that attach muscle to a joint such as the knee or shoulder. It is said that a 30 second massage does help improve hip flexibility and also helps decrease soreness in the muscle in the athletes or individuals who receive this massage after and before exercises. There is also a notable decreased muscle soreness for athletes and exercising individuals.

Any person who chooses to engage in regular exercise and other physical activity and exertion of body muscles should consider receiving a sports massage therapy from a qualified and experienced therapist. A proper exercise will basically include a warm up, the main exercise and then a warm down. The purpose of the warm is basically to open up the blood vessels for increased blood flow. This is very important as increased blood flow will deliver nutrients and oxygen to the parts of the body where it is needed the most, such as body muscles.

A cool down is also essential especially after physical and intense workouts. These exercises that help the body to cool down will enable the heart rate to go down and the blood pressure to return to normal rates. Athletes who do not cool down properly will basically have their hear rate go down and the blood pressure resume normal rates but they may suffer bouts of dizziness and light headedness. All these are important aspects of getting rid of knots and and tight muscles.

The Key Factor to Your Success in Private Practice

Knowing where you are going in your practice and business is a prerequisite to private practice success!

When you have clarity about the direction you are taking, you will have surprising business growth and success.

The Problem

I would estimate that more than 90% of physical therapy practice owners who contact me for help do not have a vision, nor do they have a plan to succeed in private practice.

Most have a vague idea of what they want for their personal and business futures. By the time they contact me for help, they are frustrated, tired, and questioning how long they can sustain their pace and hard work.

Once they have completed the business assessment we offer, they recognize only too clearly that they are working mostly "in" the business, not enough "on" the business.

There is in fact no one leading their company's direction, strategy, people, goals and accountability process.

How can a business succeed and grow with no one leading?

A Real Example

When I first met Teresa she fit this profile. To her credit, she recognized this and started her work with us.

Teresa's Story:

a clinic owner,

who created a vision for her clinic

and formulated a plan to grow and succeed.

Teresa sent us a report of some of her clinic's accomplishments after only 6 months:

1. Changed our corporate identity, i.e., new logo, new look to print materials, etc. and changed look and tone of our website.

2. Made a major physical renovation to change the look and feel to more of a gym atmosphere, and we accomplished all of this while only adding an additional 130 sq feet of new space, so the rent payment didn't increase much.

3. Having new equipment and space led to new ideas for programming (which were implemented).

4. Developing new programs led to promoting them. And we had an incredible spring - invited to speak to school boards, sports clubs, teacher's convention, etc....

5. Now new patients are coming to clinic because they have heard of our programs and clinic.

6. 2 new therapists (awesome therapists) have joined our staff. They are super excited to join the clinic because of the our clinic philosophy.

7. A sports psychologist has joined our team, and we are interviewing to add an exercise therapist.

8. One of the exercise therapist applicants also works as a trainer in the Sports facility where we are located. So now we are discussing how to integrate our physio programs into the whole facility.

and the list goes on...

I guess my comment to all this is - WOW... look at the mess of work you got me into!!!

Just kidding... what I really want to say is Thank You... and look what that little exercise in vision and planning can do and has done for us.

Our 26 yr old practice has a new found "energy", we are treating the patients we love to work with, our staff is happy, and we're looking forward to hitting our next set of goals!

The Solution

Your goal as an owner is to design and shape a business that serves you and works independently from you - a business that is system-dependent and not owner-dependent.

Instead of shuffling papers or doing the bookkeeping, spend time trying to make your practice different, better, more profitable, and systems-oriented.

Remember, there is no job more valuable, intriguing and enriching than building your own business. Just think of the benefits it offers if you do it right - with a clear vision and plan! First, there are the personal perks. Autonomy is a big one: you get to set your own hours, choose the people you work with and control the services and projects you work on. Or this ought to be the case, if it isn't today. Then there is the unparalleled opportunity to generate personal wealth. And every day presents the possibility of a hair-raising and spine-tingling adventure.

Clarity: the key factor to your success

A vision reflects what your business is trying to achieve and what you care about most. It is simply a statement of the dream you have for your business.

Dream forward and describe what you want for your business in 5 years time, what you want your business to become.

Start by asking yourself these questions:

• Why am I in business and what do I want out of it?


• The most important thing to me is...


• The core values my business stands for are...

Work on this exercise diligently, and you'll soon begin to see how you make decisions that bring you closer to your dream. Don't forget to plan how you will get to this dream with strategies that are proven to be successful.

Acupuncture and Massage Therapy Can Help Treat Cancer Patients

Acupuncture is a well known alternative treatment method and has been used in China for centuries now. The period of healing, that generally follows any major illness, is characterized by a long time of waiting.

Breast cancer is one such illness that many women all over the world, are struggling with. Apart from the chemotherapy and other radiation therapies that are received by a woman with breast cancer, massage is often acknowledged to be one of the best ways to deal with the ailment. Acupuncture, on the other hand, has also emerged as a very effective technique to deal with cancer.

Acupuncture, along with a healthy diet, meditation and exercise, can help in improving the quality life of a patient suffering from breast cancer. There are many levels on which the entire concept of acupuncture works for a cancer patient. Acupuncture and massage are both often considered better than invasive procedures because with both these therapies, the body mind and spirit are all uplifted. For a person, lacking in energy due to the rigorous treatment schedule, acupuncture is an excellent way to get back some semblance of a normal life.

Acupuncture also helps in the release of toxins in the body. These toxins, which are often the by - products of the medications of breast cancer, can be easily released from the body of a person through acupuncture and massage.

Massage can help promote decompression therapy, which helps in the decompression of the muscles in various parts of the body. there is an incredible amount of emotional support that massage therapists and acupuncturists can bring in for the benefit of a cancer patient. Besides, both massage and acupuncture help in promoting the natural healing mechanisms of the body, thus improving the prognosis of the disease and allowing both medicine and nature work in tandem.

It is a common belief that both acupuncture and decompression therapy can help solely with back relief, nausea and other such minor complaints. In reality, both these alternative therapies have been a part of the mainstream ancient Chinese medicine. These therapies are impressive treatments for treating the post operative complaints of cancer patients.
In the time between the diagnosis of breast cancer and its medical treatment, a patient can safely undergo acupuncture treatment. The best part is that acupuncture and massage can both be continued along with the regular medical treatment. This is incredible because San Fernando Valley Acupuncture and massage do not alter or interfere with the therapeutic benefits of medicine, thus maintaining a harmonious balance with the body.

Acupuncture not only helps the body gain its strength back, but also helps improve the stamina and therefore, the strength of the body to fight the disease as well as the deterioration caused by the series of invasive therapies and procedures.

Massage Therapist Business Cards With Muscle - Part 3

I've never been a big fan of business cards and in Part 1 of this series of articles I outlined why most massage therapist business cards simply were not a useful marketing tool. But I had a change of heart and in Part 2 of this series, you found out how to add a direct response element to your card to get people calling you for appointments.

Now there is one further very important element that every massage therapist business card should have. It doesn't seem like a big thing, but studies have shown that people will hang onto your business card longer and are more likely to respond...

...if you upscale your image by having them printed in full color on glossy stock.

Use full color business cards. Test after test has shown them to be worth much, much more than the extra expense to print them.

It's true that glossy full color business cards are a little more expensive than a regular card printed on ordinary paper, but the cost is inconsequential. Does it really matter if the cost goes up three or four cents per card? That's hardly going to break your bank account.

They are valuable for a number of reasons. First and foremost, they give you an almost instant boost in credibility. They do this by upscaling your business in your prospect's eyes. Let's face it - they look more professional; they look higher class.

This is particularly important in an industry like massage where we are selling an intangible service. Potential customers can kick the tires when they're checking out a new car, but they can't kick you. They have nothing to judge you on but the visual image that you present. So the materials that represent you must be of the highest quality to represent the quality of your service.

Another benefit is that people hold on to glossy full color business cards much longer on average than black and white ones - ten times as long according to one survey. I guess because they look more expensive, people are just hesitant to throw them out.

So if you're a massage therapist, business cards you create should always be full color, glossy ones and should always have a direct response element to them.

Physical Therapy Assistant Job Description

Becoming a physical therapy assistant can be a great career choice for someone interested in physical fitness and medical rehabilitation, and also desiring a profession in the health care industry.

It can be a very demanding job both physically and emotionally however, since it is very hands-on with patients as they go through therapy for a variety of reasons.

It is recommended that candidates research the physical therapy assistant job description to learn as much as they can before making the final decision and enrolling in school or any formal training. In this way, students will understand ahead of time what to expect from this career path, and whether or not it is the right decision for them.

General Physical Therapy Assistant Job Description

A physical therapy assistant has the important role of assisting a licensed physical therapist in providing treatment to patients in need of rehabilitative care.

The type of duties will greatly depend on a few things such as the type of facility, whether or not the position is for specialty care only, the patient's needs and the PTA's training and experience.

Typically, the physical therapist will meet with patients as required after surgeries and/or treatments and periodically throughout therapy continuation to assess the patient's progress, then prescribe physical therapy treatments and exercises to aid rehabilitation.

It is then the assistant's job to help the patient in performing those exercises or do those treatments. In all actuality, it is the PTA that has more patient contact in many cases than the PT themselves, since it is the PTA's job to carry out the prescribed rehabilitation order.

A physical therapy assistant's job description may differ from one job position to another, but in general they will usually all include many of the same duties such as explaining therapy to patients and their families, answering the patient's questions, showing patients how to use exercise equipment and therapeutic aids and helping them to perform required exercises and movements correctly, among many other tasks.

PTAs who are trained to do so may also be required to administer massage therapy, laser therapy and hydrotherapy. Occasionally a PTA may need to perform wound care for some patients, too.

Yet another part of the physical therapy assistant job description, PTAs are usually responsible for fitting patients with any orthopedic devices or other therapy aids such as crutches, splints, wheelchairs, orthotics and other devices, as well as teaching patients how to care for and use them.

Additionally, it is the responsibility of the PTA to record progress during rehabilitation sessions in the medical record, recognize problems that the patient may be having and to report all progress and problems to the PT who is overseeing each patient.

Detailed documentation is a very important part of a PTA's job, and can be a substantial part of the workload besides actually working with the patients themselves.

Specialty Practice Physical Therapy Assistant Job Description

Some rehabilitation facilities will specialize in treating patients of only one type, such as those that have heart conditions, have had heart surgery or have had other serious surgical procedures, patients recovering from stroke or patients recovering from other debilitating illness or accidents.

In these types of practices, while the basic job description will usually be the same, the actual hands-on exercises each patient may be required to perform will differ. In such cases, PTAs may not do many of the tasks that others do at different practices, but they are usually required to at least be trained in all the different aspects of physical therapy treatment.

Some specialties may also require additional, specialized training, too. Rehabilitation specialty areas include cardiopulmonary therapy, neurology, geriatrics, pediatrics, orthopedics and stroke rehabilitation, just to name a few. Training of PTAs beyond their basic education and the general physical therapy assistant job description is then tailored to the needs of the practice.

It is probably easy to see that the physical therapy assistant job description is quite diverse, and can be very challenging at times. However, with explaining about the job requirments in advance, it should also be said that most who go on to become a PTA find much personal satisfaction in this career field. The job provides a great way to make a difference in people's lives directly, making all of the hard work very worthwhile.

Massage Therapy, Fitness and Optimal Performance

Massage therapy is often used as an adjunct to a fitness routine to assist in achieving peak athletic performance. There are a variety of ways in which massage therapy is used to promote optimal fitness - massage therapy is not all just about spas and "fluff". Massage can be used to increase the suppleness of muscle, aid in recovery after exertion, assist in fluid removal in the presence of injury or inflammation (from non-infectious origins) or control pain through the release of endorphins.

Massage therapy affects muscles in 2 ways: mechanically and chemically. Mechanically, it is the kneading, stretching and compression of the tissue which stimulates the smooth muscle of the blood vessels and increases blood flow to and from the area. (due to an increase in histamine - see below). Manual manipulation of the tissue will also literally break adhesions and scar tissue, regardless of whether techniques are applied with or against the muscle fibre. This decrease in inelastic scar tissue will allow muscles to contract and elongate as they should, and will increase muscle performance.

At a chemical level, massage therapy can cause the release of "endorphins", neurotransmitters that reduce the perception of pain, and increase a feeling of wellbeing. Increased permeability of the blood vessels is caused by release of histamine in response to mechanical stimulation - this increase in blood flow leads to "hyperemia", redness which is often visible after a massage.

The application of therapeutic massage plays a role in event preparation as well as recovery and maintenance, though the goals and application will be different depending on the timing of the treatment in relation to the activity.

Pre-event, the purpose of massage is to "wake-up" and warm-up the muscles, ensuring that they are ready for physical demands to be placed on them. During a pre-event treatment, the movements of the therapist are quick, stimulating the nerves in the area and increasing the ability of a muscle to react to stimuli. Circulation to the muscle is also increased and with it oxygen delivery to the muscle cells, causing a subsequent increase in cellular metabolism and improved functionality. Increased blood flow also warms up the muscle, allowing for greater pre-event stretching, imperative to optimizing performance and reducing injury due to muscle strain.

Post-event massage is much slower, encouraging the body to relax after exertion. Massage therapy at this stage is utilized to assist the body in removing metabolic waste, relaxing and stretching the fatigued muscle. This is done by increasing the circulation and pliability of the muscle tissue. The increased removal of metabolic waste such as lactic acid will decrease recovery time and soreness in the days following an event.

Massage therapy used as a maintenance tool will assist an athlete in maintaining optimal muscle health. During maintenance treatments, the therapist will assess the condition of tissue and establish a treatment plan in conjunction with the goals and condition of the client. It is during these treatments that muscle imbalances are often identified; adhesions and scar tissue are broken down (thus increasing muscle functionality) via manipulation, stretching and breaking down of tissue. Circulation is increased, assisting in oxygen delivery and metabolic waste removal.

Regardless of fitness level, massage therapy can help a fitness enthusiast or athlete achieve his or her performance goals by promoting and maintaining muscle health.

What it Takes to Be a Physical Therapist

In our lifetimes, we have the option of trying out very many jobs, or even careers, to find out what we really love. In many cases, it may take quite a few years to find true joy in their employment, as we're not all sure as to what we want to do. As we try out many jobs, we build skills and a work ethic that is positive for the thing we eventually find out we want to do for the rest of our lives. Simply put, we find our calling. There are many jobs out there to choose from, and while they are rewarding, more and more people are finding the field of physical therapy as a dream job.

What it Takes

In the media, there are more and more advertisements about the career that is physical therapy. With these advertisements and growing public knowledge, it has made the career choice one of the fastest growing professions stateside. Although it is growing rapidly, it still requires a certain level of drive and work ethic to achieve this goal, all the while still being quite attainable for those willing. The job duties of the physical therapist include working with doctors and other therapists to rehabilitate them. These people could be suffering from painful injuries, maybe diseases, or other ailments.

To be a physical therapist, there is always going to be a certain level of training and education. Normally, there are two different parts that a person must successfully pass to be a therapist, which normally last three to four years. The first part is more of the education similar to what one would see at a school. The second is where it gets to the heart of the matter, where you essentially learn more of what you need to know to be a successful physical trainer.

This is in addition to an advanced degree, such as a master's degree to legally practice physical therapy. After all of the applicable training, there is also a national standardized test that is required for you to practice. The test is something that can be easy to overcome if the person is genuinely serious about what they want to do, if they genuinely have a passion for physical therapy.

The Joy of Physical Therapy

Choosing a career in physical therapy is something that is worthwhile; as there are many jobs available for people who are required to practice. They enjoy a very decent salary, although it's more about the people that they have the privilege of helping. The physical therapist is a person who really has a zest for life, as they get to live every day helping people who are in need. What is more exciting than that?

In addition to that, there are many different professions in the physical therapy field. Whether it's bringing someone back to health after a tremendous enjoy, or helping out an athlete get back to fighting form, there are essentially no bounds when it comes to this exciting career!

Types of Massage Therapy

The changing dynamics of today's lifestyles have altered our needs and wants. In the earlier times, people had different lifestyles and the way of life was not very hectic. However with increased pressures and the chaotic lifestyles, people confront many problems that they did not face before. To alleviate and relieve the tensions that people face, massage therapy has emerged as a very effective and beneficial practice. Not only does it involve soothing and relaxation of body muscles and the pressure points present in the human body, it leaves one mentally refreshed.

Message therapy even medically is considered the most effective and the best tension reliever. In some cases, it is even an essential part of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Massage therapy has a very vast scope and it encompasses around 80 different types of therapies.

The basic purpose behind the massage therapy is to alleviate pain and relieve one of tension, pressure etc. The process is can be simply explained, basically the relaxation of the muscles and tissues of the body increases the oxygen and blood delivery to those areas of the body where the massage is being performed, this results in a decreased level of pain suffered.

The therapist exerts varying strokes of strong pressure so as to relax the pressure points, which are also known as knots.

This is a very famous and renowned massage type. The massage is aimed at relaxing the joints and making them more flexible, this is done by giving long strokes to the person combined with muscle friction and kneading so that it flexes the joints.

Another common massage type that people are usually aware of, as the name suggests strong finger and hand pressure is exerted on specific areas of the patient's body where the muscles and tissues are tight or knotted together. The focus in on those parts of the muscle layers that are deep inside the skin.

For a Shiatsu Massage, recurrent and different pressures are exerted to the body parts whereby the energy flow is stabilized.

Reflexology (zone therapy) is an alternative medicine method involving the practice of massaging or applying pressure to parts of the feet, or sometimes the hands and ears, with the goal of encouraging a beneficial effect on other parts of the body, or to improve general health.

Thai massage is a type of massage in Thai style that involves stretching and deep massage. This form of bodywork is usually performed on the floor, and the client wears comfortable clothes that allow for movement. No oils are used in Thai massage. A significant part of the practice of Thai massage also includes yoga-like stretches, which are intended to stimulate the body through a pumping action, which is connected with the patient's breathing.

Various forms of massage require different techniques to be performed. For almost all the massages, it is imperative that fingers and hands are used to perform it however there are certain types that require other body parts such as elbows, feet and forearms to be used.

What to Expect From Physical Therapy

Walking into a complex offering physical therapy can be somewhat daunting. ?You can see a lot of unusual items set around the treatment room, along with more familiar exercise equipment. ?If you are in pain from in illness or injury, some of the things you see may make you just a bit nervous. ?If the therapists in this room are properly trained, you don't need to be nervous at all.

The first thing that will be done after an assessment and before PT starts will be something to warm up the area to be worked on. ?Heating pads are a good start, and they actually feel pretty good. ?This warm up will help make your muscles and joints work better and less likely to be painful. ?After your session, you may also have an ice pack, in order to reduce any inflammation the workout caused. ?That, too, feels pretty good.

When the areas that need therapy are load bearing, aquatic therapy may be recommended. ?This makes it a "no impact" session and provides resistance to help build up muscles faster. ?This can also be done for problems in non-load bearing joints, if that is what the doctor thinks is best for you. ?(Don't worry if you can't swim, most of these exercises are done in the shallow end of the pool, and they understand those of us who are afraid of large amounts of water.)

You can expect some sort of monitoring during PT. ?If you are in it as part of cardiac rehab, this monitoring is especially important and may include leads that will show any rhythm problems and other abnormalities. ?For injury related PT, it will probably be just watching and listening so as to avoid further damage.

If you feel pain, stop and tell the therapist. ?You have probably been told to take something for pain half an hour before your session. ?If not, ask. ?The therapist may know it will be painful, so you may be given advance warning and other instructions. ?Otherwise, it may be a sign that your body is not yet ready for the exercise given it. ?

There are usually two main goals of this sort of exercise. ?One is to relieve pain and the other is to improve range of motion. ?Both of these are done by a series of exercises that gradually build up stretch muscles, tendons and ligaments back close to their original length and to train the muscles to help the joints do the job.

You may notice some stiffness, both when doing the exercises and afterward. ?This is normal at the beginning, but should improve as you go through the sessions your doctor ordered. ?If not enough improvement is seen, you may be given a different type of PT.

Do expect your muscles to be tired. ?If you have not exercised the muscles for any stretch of time prior to beginning, it will take time before they can handle the extra requirements being made of them. ?This is different from muscle pain, which is also a possibility.

PT is an important tool that can help you recover from serious problems and get back to your normal routines. ?It's a good idea to talk to your doctor before, during and after going through the process. The doctor can then fine tune what you are doing so that you achieve that laudable goal.

Therapeutic Massage and the Release of Feel Good Hormones

We all know that therapeutic massage or massage therapy is a sure way of relaxing the body and the mind. In the strictest sense, massage therapy is the systematic manipulation of our body tissues to get rid of muscular knots. This is done through the use of various hand techniques to apply fixed and movable pressure to different muscle groups.

A session of massage therapy is enough to stimulate the release of feel-good hormones in the body. A well known medical journal stated that an hour of massage can significantly increase the human body's production of dopamine, seratonin, and oxytocin and the decrease of the production of epinephrine and cortisol. The first three hormones are mood enhancers and are known to improve brain functions. As the production of these hormones increases, the production of the latter three hormones, which are known to induce stress, decreases. Further studies reveal that dopamine, seratonin, and oxytocin do more than that. Studies show that these hormones also improve the body's immune system. Our immune system is very important as it is responsible for protecting us from various sickness and disease. Dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin also contribute to the regulation of body temperature, mood, sleep, vomiting, sexuality, and appetite. In the long run, production of these feel good hormones and the reduction of stress-inducing hormones tend to diminish depression, anxiety, emotional distress, and attacks of sleeplessness.

The production of the body's feel good hormones begins the moment we step into the massage spa. Our perception of our immediate environment affects our bodily functions. Another factor affecting hormone production is the giver of therapeutic treatment. As such, we need to choose the right therapist who is properly trained to deliver the proper massage techniques and strokes. Improper manipulation of muscles can lead to injuries and will not properly stimulate production of the feel good hormones.

And because this bodywork therapy involves applying touch, pressure, and movement, the therapist must be able to customize their techniques to fit people's varying sensitivity to touch. Every client needs optimal pressure that suits his or her condition. On our end, it is our responsibility to inform our massage therapist about any special health condition that might affect the process. We should also never hesitate in communicating any discomfort that we feel in order for us to receive the most benefit from a treatment.

Every session is aimed at increasing a person's over all health and well being. This is in line with the basic philosophy of massage therapy which is to enhance the body's innate ability to heal itself. So whether it is a Swedish massage, sports massage, deep tissue massage, pregnancy massage, and reflexology, the use of effleurage and other strokes improves blood flow and circulation, which in turn reduces muscular stress and tension and enhances tissue healing. In this light, massage therapy does not only relax the mind and body, but it also serves as a natural way of self-healing. This is certainly beneficial to everyone.

Massage Therapy Training Courses

Massage therapy is a specialized field that requires formal training, passage of an exam and a license to conduct on a professional level in 38 states. Massage therapy training course requirements differ from state to state. There are approximately 1,500 massage therapy training schools that provide formal training.

Each school varies on it's curriculum and will also vary in the types of massage therapy it specializes in it's training courses and program. There are over 80 different types of massage therapies from reflexology to Swedish massage to shiatsu massage and beyond. These training schools will specialize in one of many of these areas.

A training school may offer massage courses in one or more of these types of massage therapies as well as massage courses in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, as well as in business marketing and ethics. Once the massage therapy training and massage courses are completed, many training schools also offer job placement opportunities for the massage therapist graduates.

State Requirements for Massage Therapy Training

There are differing state requirements for accreditation of training schools, so make sure the massage therapy training school you are considering is up to speed on all it's license requirements. In order to get paid as a professional massage therapist, you must not only complete massage therapy training courses, but you must also fulfill all the legal requirements in your state. Without this, you cannot and should not practice, especially for money. Training courses are not difficult to find. There are many great training courses around, probably in your area. Many training schools are reasonably priced.

It is very likely that you will be able to find a training school or training courses near where you live. Although most massage therapy training courses and schools are located in metropolitan areas, you might be able to find one in a smaller, but growing city as well. In terms of job placement and employment opportunities once you have completed your training courses, metropolitan areas like Philadelphia, New York City and Los Angeles will be the best places to find massage therapist jobs.

Because of the rapidly rising interest in holistic and alternative healing and medicines, as well as natural therapies replacing traditionally medical treatments, massage therapy is going to be a rapidly growing industry that will require massage therapists to go through training courses. Also with the growing demand, training schools should begin to grow as well and choice of schools as well as training courses will become abundant. Training courses should also be looked at critically, making sure they have the techniques you are looking for and have the types of training courses you want.

Continuing Education for Massage Therapy Training

Many graduates of training programs take the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB). Many states require massage therapists to pass this exam in order to get a license to practice. When a massage therapist passes the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB), they are nationally recognized and need to renew their status every 4 years. Just like in most health related professions, massage therapists are required to do 200 hours of massage therapy work in addition to fulfilling continuing education massage courses.

Beyond this nationally recognized designation, each state has it's own regulations and laws, and anyone interested in becoming a massage therapist or attending a training program or desiring to take courses, should look into his or her own state regulations regarding practicing as a massage therapist.

Massage Therapy Business

Massage therapy is a business indeed and it's a way to make money for many people. Some work for hospitals, clinics and sports facilities, but most are self-employed and owners of their own business. This requires business skills that most businesses have to deal with like marketing, sales, billing and accounting, on top of doing the work. Training is just the beginning step to a rewarding career or business in this field.

The Characteristics of Effective Physical Therapists - Confidence

The field of physical therapy requires many attributes, which makes this field unique among professions. Due to the fact that physical therapists usually work one-on-one with their clients, it is imperative that these professionals master the art of human relations and interpersonal skills. Due to their close relationship with their clients, physical therapist must display outstanding character traits which will lead their clients to feel at ease during the therapeutic sessions, as well as to develop the feeling of well-being when in the presence of the therapist. Most character traits cannot be taught in a short period of time, and are usually ingrained in the individual in the home environment, but experience can also yield a wealth of knowledge and character development.

Confidence is one of the primary attributes that a physical therapist must have in order to effectively and efficiently engage in his or her profession. Without self-confidence and individual will usually lack the motivation and drive that is required to be highly successful at their chosen profession, which will eventually effect them financially, socially, and in the interpersonal relationship with their clients.

One of the key ways that confidence is developed is through competence in your chosen field. Confidence in a field can be achieved in many different ways, but one of the main ways of developing competence is to seek and obtain a high degree of knowledge about your field. Once an individual develops a high level of knowledge in a particular field, the individual's confidence will immediately increase due to their reservoir of knowledge concerning a particular subject. Knowledge serves to boost the confidence of individuals, due to the fact that it takes the mystery out of the practice of a chosen field or activity. In the case of physical therapy, a highly knowledgeable practitioner will exude confidence because there are very few unknown factors that can effectively inhibit his or her performance, which gives him the inner feeling that he will succeed at his tasks. The deep-seated feeling that one will succeed at any tasks before him, serves to build his confidence in his abilities.

Benefits of A Lifestream Massage

Lifestream massage is an ideal treatment for individuals who are after relaxing and soothing effects from a massage therapy which at the same time is able to deal with issues on the deep tissues of the body. The therapy is great for those who are not used to deep tissue massage as it acts as a good introductory massage to those painful massages. Although the treatment is considered as a type of deep tissue therapy, it is appreciated by beginners in the massage therapy community due to its mild approach.

In a Lifestream massage therapy session, the usual procedures in most massage therapies are followed such as undressing for the convenience of both the client and therapist during the treatment. The client is then politely asked to lie down and maintain a relaxed body to enjoy the treatment. Massage oil is then used on the skin of the patient to provide better surface for the therapist to maneuver and manipulate his or her hands when performing the various massage strokes and techniques. Lubricants are important especially on massage types such as Swedish massage as it involves lots of sweeping motions that can cause pain and discomfort when conducted without the medium.

People who had this therapy would agree that the benefits of the treatment aside from the relaxing effects include improved circulation of blood, oxygen, and lymph within the body. Regular visit to the therapist definitely improves the immune system of the patient which is very vital for a complete wellness. Stimulation of the nerves is commonly done on massage techniques that use gentle strokes such as in Swedish massage. It is also known for improving the respiratory function of the client when used as a medical care. Many patients express their joy from the health benefit of having a stress-free feeling. The treatment can also be used to stabilize and lower high blood pressure. There are also reports that say it is great for dealing with anxiety and depression. For the best part, the therapy was designed to address muscle tissue damages that can result to serious problems when given less attention and importance. This painful condition can be treated with the use of this simple yet effective massage therapy. All of these health benefits can be received from a certified massage therapist. Though it can be performed by any therapist, it would be nice to have it from a highly trained and skilled individual for best results.

Aside from the benefits of the therapy, it would be better if you include proper diet and a good exercise regime to complete the healthy lifestyle. These three gets along better than when applying only one or two for the purpose of achieving a healthy constitution.

Heal Your Own Tendinitis

Tendinitis is scar tissue. The tendon was torn slightly-not torn in half, just some of the fibers broken. One way that tendons tear is overuse in one repetitive motion (anything from tennis to keyboarding). Tendons will also tear from a one-time blow (a fall or car accident). Sometimes both happen at once; while vacuuming, you fatigue the biceps tendon and then you might unexpectedly bump the vacuum into a table leg.

How do you know if you have tendinitis? Only a doctor may diagnose you, but here are some signs and symptoms. Does one particular action cause pain? With tendinitis, refraining from that and similar activities reduces the pain in a week or two, and the pain may go away altogether if you completely stop the activity. Just because the pain is gone does not mean you are cured-the scar tissue is still there. And who wants to go through their whole life avoiding activities?

Imagine a violin bow, made of long parallel horse hairs that are pulled into one thick strand. Imagine this bow frays in the middle, and to repair it, you glue a cotton ball to it. Would you expect this to be a permanent solution? The next time you tried to strum the violin with the bow, the cotton ball would thump across the strings every stroke. Like the bow, tendon fibers are parallel, and like cotton, scar tissue fibers are randomly directed, with a glue substance between. Scar tissue creates a lump. Even though the lump is smaller than a grain of rice, it rubs on other tissues every time you move the joint. That hurts! What's worse, random fiber direction does not have the tensile strength of parallel fibers. Which means, that no matter how long you rest from tendinitis, the next time you give a 100% effort (swinging a racket with full force, or typing for ten hours), that scar tissue will tear again, as bad as the first time.

The solution is to mechanically remove the excess scar tissue.

One theory I learned at the Brian Utting School of Massage comes from The British Dr. James Cyriax. Rubbing the scar tissue perpendicular to the tendon fibers, breaks only those scar fibers that happen to lie perpendicular to the tendon, but only strums those fibers that happen to be parallel. After applying "cross fiber friction" a number of weeks, the remaining unbroken scar tissue lies flat with the tendon. Because those fibers left unbroken are the fibers that lie parallel with the tendon, the scar tissue possesses 100% of the original tendon strength. The textbook treatment includes two minutes of cross-fiber friction as hard as you can stand, tears coming to your eyes. This would be done no more than two or three times a week, followed by ice. I used this method on many people but found they wouldn't continue treatment-it hurts too much. So instead of painful rubbing, I now use an Ice Cup. Since I switched to ice treatment instead, I find many more people continuing their treatment at home.

Ice is like magic!

How To Treat Your Own Tendinitis:

Put water in your freezer now, so it will be ready tomorrow morning. Freeze the water in a little yogurt cup or 6-8 oz. paper cup. Tomorrow, when the ice is ready, pop the ice out of the cup and hold it with a hand towel, to catch the drips. Use not the flat surface, but the edge of the ice to saw perpendicular across the tendon at the exact site of tiny scar tissue lesion. Chill an area no larger than the size of a dime.

Ice yourself no longer than five minutes (watch a clock or set a timer!) or until numbness, whichever comes first. (You may check for numbness by removing the ice, dragging a finger lightly over the area to see if you can still feel it.) If you ice more than five minutes, you will give yourself frostbite-I have done this to myself and believe me, you don't want frostbite. Ice only for five minutes. When the feeling comes back in about five more minutes, you may ice again. You could ice up to six times over one hour while you watch a TV show.

Yes, it must be a cup! An ice bag or gel pack will not work; the cold is spread over too large an area, and the tiny spot that needs it does not get cold enough, the melting water maintains 32 degrees. An ice cup maintains a larger thermal mass the same as your freezer, maybe ten degrees below zero. The edge of the cup applies the cold to a much smaller point. Besides, your whole body will shiver if you chill a large area. You will hardly notice the cold if you only chill the size of a dime. You could even sit in a hot tub or warm bath while you ice the limb.

Ice at least once a day, until your pain is gone and your strength is back to 100%.

How does it work? Ice threatens to freeze the cells to death. The body wants all the cells to live so it sends lots of fresh, warm blood to the area. This flushing effect washes away the scar tissue, so I call it "the erosion effect." Second, blood brings macrophages. Macrophages are very large white blood cells who entirely surround a piece of scar tissue and haul it off to the liver or spleen for processing. A certain percentage of white blood cells are present in all blood, so the more blood you can rush past the scar tissue, the more macrophages will "see" the scar tissue. That is why we chill only the size of a dime, to narrow the focus where all these macrophages will arrive and all this erosion will occur.

How long will it take to be cured? You won't believe the results if you ice at least once per day.

Here is the small print-it may be difficult for you to find the exact spot of the scar tissue lesion. The lump is not always large enough to feel, it could be as small as a grain of salt. Some people can point exactly where the spot is, but most feel it as a shifty, vague location.

If you can't find the exact spot, check out an anatomy book from the library. Likely places for tendinitis pain are:

• front of the shoulder (subscapularis and/or biceps),
  
  
  
  


• top of the shoulder (supraspinatus),
  
  
  
  


• back of the shoulder (infraspinatus and/or triceps),
  
  
  
  


• wrist (extensor digitorum upper attachment near elbow),
  
  
  
  


• sits bone (hamstrings),
  
  
  
  


• bottom of foot (inner or outer curve of heel plantar fascia)
  
  
  
  


• groin (pectineus)
  
  
  
  


• front of hip (psoas or Tensor Fascia Latte)
  
  
  
  


• knee (just above or below patella)

While looking at the anatomy book pictures, realize that the most likely places for tendinitis are 1) where the tendon attaches to the bone, and 2) where the reddish muscle turns into the yellowish tendon. One hurdle is, that you feel pain "distal," or farther from the brain, than the real injury. If all you have is a vague sense of the location, try poking the nearest tendon and following it "upstream" until you find the pain source. In almost all cases, people don't realize there is one tiny painful spot until we begin poking the tendons.

How do you know you've found it?

"OW, that's IT, you're exactly ON it!"

Even when you think you are right on it, move around in very small increments in each direction, playing a game of "warmer, colder" to zero-in on the maximum pain spot. This is the scar tissue lesion you will ice for five minutes.

If you can't find it yourself, search around for a therapist who knows anatomy well. Unfortunately, only a small percent of therapists and Doctors were ever trained to palpate where tendons join with bones and muscles. Call a few and ask them if they can help you find the exact location of a tendinitis lesion. Go at least once and bring a permanent marker so they can put a dot over the lesion. This way you can find it again when you get home, to do your daily home icing. If the pain is somewhere you can't reach, like the back of your shoulder, this dot will help your spouse or friend to ice you daily at home.

This article is not intended to provide you with a diagnosis-only a doctor can diagnose you. That said, no harm will come to you from icing parts of your body, so give it a try! Sometimes a person who has been diagnosed with "carpal tunnel syndrome" feels relief after icing the flexor and extensor tendons at the elbow. In every case of "plantar fascitis" that I have seen, the person improved when we addressed scar tissue lesions on the bottom of the heel.

The purpose of pain is to help you learn to do something differently. How did this scar tissue occur in the first place? Icing the lesion will make it go away, but you still need to change something about the way you do this activity, so you don't create a new lesion.

My sincere intention is that you are empowered to heal yourself of this long-nagging pain, and that you make changes for a happier future. Happy Frosting!

The 3 Key Benefits of Massage Therapy

The benefits of massage therapy cover a large array of health issues, from stress and tension to lowering blood pressure. Stress and aches and pains can melt away with the skilled hands of a massage therapist and people who have massages regularly tend to fall asleep faster and enjoy more restorative sleep. All this contributes to an improved sense of well-being and may even help individuals from getting sick less frequently.

Everyone who lives the modern lifestyle can enjoy the benefits of massage therapy. A lot of us have become so busy that we simply never have the time required to wind down or rest. There is not a great deal of down time for today's society, as the majority of people are juggling youngsters, work, as well as other family activities. So, what are the main benefits of massage therapy?

Physical Improvement Individuals that require time to entirely unwind may benefit from massage. Frequent massages have been verified to get appreciable physical improvements, for instance a rise in serotonin levels in the human brain and reduction in detrimental t-cells. This can also help strengthen your immune system.

Decreased Blood Pressure Another of its chief benefits is that it decreases one's blood pressure. Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated that over time a regime of massage will help to lower a person's levels of blood pressure. Individuals with hypertension must talk about the benefits of massage treatment with their physicians and verify if this form of treatment can be added to their existing anti-hypertensive therapy.

Improved Circulation Other benefits of massage therapy that have been well-documented include overall circulation improvements. What do we mean by improved circulation? You could have reduced circulation if your hands and feet are habitually cold, and if you are weary and achy a lot of the time. The advantage of massage is that it makes blood rich in oxygen flow to the affected areas by means of effortless massage pressure, thereby improving circulation.

Massage furthermore will help to remove lactic acid which gathers inside the muscles and it helps the lymphatic system that is responsible for removing toxins from the body. This is particularly helpful after working out to relieve sore muscles.

The benefits of massage therapy are cumulative. Following a sustained course of massage, the subject will find that their blood pressure levels are reduced, stress hormone levels are decreased, and that depression and nervousness are also decreased. Consequently, general overall fitness levels will almost certainly be improved.

Why Doctor Advised For Regular Swedish Massage Therapy Session?

Swedish massage is the most common form of relaxation massage and also most popular modern holistic massage techniques. Tapping motions are used in Swedish massage therapy to stimulate the body's circulation system leading to a variety of positive effects on overall health. Effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement, compression, and vibration are the main strokes in Swedish massage.

Long flowing motions are used in Swedish massage therapy and the direction of these strokes is in the direction of the heart.

Key benefits of Swedish massage?

Swedish massage increases oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. This massage shortens helps muscle to recover quickly from muscular strain by flushing the tissues of lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes.

Swedish massage stretches the ligaments and tendons keeping them supple and pliable and also increases blood circulation. The increase blood circulation stimulates the skin and nervous system and soothes the nerves themselves at the same time.

Physician often advised to take regular Swedish massage as it reduces stress, both emotional and physical, and is suggested in a regular program for stress management. Swedish massage helps in several different physical complexities. Regular massage therapy sessions are the best way to receive the healing powers of Swedish massage.

How to set up environment for good Swedish massage therapy session

The Swedish massage uses that of long flowing strokes which are in the direction of the heart, and these strokes helps to improve circulation and blood flow. There is usually a massage cream or lotion applied to the skin in order to reduce the wrong kind of friction and to allow for smoother strokes.

4 suggestions for Massage therapist

1. Set up a relaxing and comfortable environment

2. There should not be any interruption during massage therapy session.

3. Room should have mild temperature

4. There should be dim lights in the room or better candlelight; for an enhanced effect, try lighting aromatherapy candles.

You can also use Swedish massage chair to have the massage therapy at your home. However, many believes that occasional visit to licensed massage therapist has no substitute.

What You Can Expect From a Career College

You've just graduated from high school and you're making career plans. Or you're a working adult and you're ready for a job change. You decide to get career training, and you start to research technical schools and colleges. The question is--what can you expect by earning your certificate or degree?

You've heard the claims made by some career schools in advertisements. For example, a computer school might claim that after earning your computer network certificate, you could expect to earn $50,000 a year as an IT specialist. You may have heard ads that state that certain career fields--say, medical assisting or massage therapy--are booming, and with training you could expect to get your dream job in one of these growing fields.

Getting career training is a good thing. But exaggerated promises are counterproductive. You know that building a rewarding career for yourself is a challenging process, and that in this difficult economy there is no "magic bullet" for success. You need some straight talk about career schools and jobs.

So, what should you expect from a career education program?

Expect to gain job skills. That's why you go to a career school--to learn new skills and increase your value in the job marketplace. A career school won't make you popular, or happier, or transform your life overnight. What a good career school can do is give you greater knowledge and experience that will help you qualify for a rewarding and higher-paying career. You'll be better equipped to compete for the best jobs, and you'll have more confidence when you walk in for that important job interview. A good career school can help you change your life one step at a time, in a way that you can feel good about.

Choose a program you love. There's no substitute for your own passion. Don't sign up for a program just because they say it's "hot." Follow your heart. If you love to draw and paint, you might want to consider a graphic arts program. If you love to help people feel better, perhaps massage therapy is for you.

Check out real-world training opportunities. Many schools provide training with equipment and conditions found in the job environment. If you're considering a program in cosmetology, make sure that the school offers hands-on training under salon conditions. If you are entering an automotive program, make sure the school has up-to-date equipment and the opportunity to do real work on real vehicles.

Schools aren't employment agencies. Most schools want to help their grads get rewarding careers, and offer career development services. The school's career office may assist you to spruce up your résumé and even provide job leads. But no school will guarantee a job to anyone. It's up to you to get out there and nail that job interview.

You may need state or federal certification to get some jobs. Earning your degree will prepare you for a certification exam, but you need to pass it on your own. For example, if you complete a home health aide program, federal law requires home health aides to pass a competency test covering a wide range of areas. All states require barbers, cosmetologists, and many other personal appearance workers to be licensed. Your school should provide information on what you need to do to take any required certification tests.

Don't believe the hype. Some schools may convey the impression that you're guaranteed a high-paying job after graduation, and may even give expected salary figures. Reputable and accredited schools follow employment trends very closely, and most career schools don't offer programs in career areas that are not in demand. However, there are no assurances-a career school can help you get qualified and can help you be more competitive in the job marketplace, but it can't guarantee you a job.

Do not buy a degree from a "diploma mill." If you have a lapse in personal ethics and are considering buying a degree, think again. Employers aren't naïve. They know all about the diploma mills and you will not get past the front door of the human resources office. Plus, you are only hurting yourself because if you buy a diploma, you won't have any skills! If by some chance you get hired you'll find yourself up the creek without a paddle.

How can you decide what job training program is right for you? The best way is to do your research online. Go to a reputable school directory website. Browse through the career schools and programs. Check out online programs, too. See if the career schools are accredited and if they offer financial aid. When you've narrowed down your choices to the top four or five, then email them through the directory. The schools you have chosen will either contact you or send you information. You can apply to as many schools as you want within your budget and how much time you have. And then you'll be ready to enroll, earn your certificate or degree, and prepare for a rewarding career.

Currently in School to Become a Physical Therapist or Occupational Therapist?

While you're still in grad school to become a physical or occupational therapist, you're likely consumed with classes, papers, internships and a wealth of other tasks. It can be very daunting to look ahead at such a busy time, but it will definitely be worth it if you do! In the past, gaining permanent placement at a hospital, clinic or school has been the norm and most likely what you've heard the most about, however, there are programs out there that allow those who've just graduated to work as a travel physical therapist or occupational therapist and explore their dreams while seeing the world!

Many students never really look into the travel therapy options available to them while they are in school, but now is the time to start! It's easy to fall into a more traditional job role right after graduation since it's what you're most familiar with, however, if you take the time to research other options before graduating, you'll be in a prime position and have all the information necessary to make the best decision for you.

Travel therapy jobs offer great pay, benefits, and travel opportunities, which can often be overlooked by many new grads. Whether you want to work in your hometown or explore another state, there are many options available to you. Travel PT and OT jobs allow students to not only choose the location they'd like to work in, but you'll have the choice of working in a range of facilities, all with different staffs and patients that are sure to help you refine your newly acquired skills.

Additionally, some travel therapy companies offer new grad reward programs and travel around to college campuses to share the details of their service offering - make sure and attend those lectures, you might find out a lot that you didn't know was even possible with these types of jobs. Using a travel therapy company to find a travel position after graduation is a great idea since they are experts in the industry, meaning that not only do they have a ton of experience placing individuals in positions well suited to their needs, but they have a complete catalog of the most up-to-date travel assignments all over the country. Additionally, these companies have consultants to offer advice and career guidance every step of the way - as a college student just recently released into the working world, that definitely goes a long way!

Whether you're deciding between permanent placement or travel opportunities, or even if you're not sure where to start, travel therapy jobs are a great option to consider. Many travel therapy companies have websites online where you can research the company and their job postings and begin the research that will make finding a job after graduation a breeze!